Candle care
Caring for Your Gemini Horse Studio Candle
Our candles are hand-poured in Vancouver, Washington using soy wax and cotton wicks. A little attention before and after each burn keeps them looking beautiful and performing their best.
The First Burn
The first burn sets the memory for your candle. Allow the melt pool to reach the edges of the vessel all the way around before extinguishing — this prevents tunneling and ensures an even burn for the life of the candle. Depending on the size of your candle, this may take a couple of hours, so plan accordingly. Do not blow out a candle that has not yet reached a full melt pool on its first burn.
Trim Your Wick Before Every Burn
Before lighting, trim the cotton wick to ¼ inch (6 mm). A trimmed wick produces a steady, clean flame, reduces soot, and helps the candle burn evenly. You can use scissors, a wick trimmer, or nail clippers — just make sure the wick is trimmed each time, not just on the first burn. Remove any trimmings from the wax before lighting.
Recommended Burn Sessions
Limit each burn session to 3–4 hours. Burning longer than this can cause the wick to mushroom, overheat the vessel, and shorten the overall life of the candle. If you want to enjoy your candle longer in a single evening, extinguish it after 4 hours, let it cool completely, trim the wick, and relight.
Safe Cooling
After extinguishing, allow the candle to cool on a flat, heat-resistant surface away from drafts, children, and pets. Do not move a candle while the wax is liquid. The vessel will be warm — handle with care. Wait until the wax has fully resolidified and the vessel is cool to the touch before storing or moving it.
Caring for Crystal-Topped Candles
Many of our candles are topped with genuine crystals and gemstones. As the wax melts, crystals may settle into the melt pool — this is normal. Take care not to let a crystal rest directly against the wick, as this can affect the flame. You can gently move crystals to the side of the melt pool using a non-flammable tool while the wax is liquid. Once the candle is finished, remove the crystals, rinse them, and keep them as a keepsake.
General Safety
- Never leave a burning candle unattended.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
- Burn on a stable, heat-resistant surface away from flammable materials.
- Keep away from drafts and vents, which can cause uneven burning and dripping.
- Stop burning when ½ inch (12 mm) of wax remains to protect the vessel and surface beneath it.
- Never use water to extinguish a candle — use a snuffer or gently replace the lid if one is provided.